Dylan Hopgood jailed for vicious assault on friend at Port Pirie West

A drugged-up dad told his mate that he stank before grabbing his head and putting it under scalding hot water for several minutes, causing him significant burns.

A father put a man’s head under hot water for several minutes, leaving him with “quite shocking” burns and in hospital for a week.

Dylan Barry Hopgood, 35, has no memory of the horrific assault he committed.

The Adelaide District Court on Thursday heard Hopgood was drinking with his friend on August 10, 2020 in Port Pirie West.

Hopgood, who was also under the influence of drugs, became physically and verbally abusive towards the victim.

“You were yelling at him that he stank,” Judge Gordon Barrett said during sentencing.

Hopgood then grabbed the victim by the shirt and dragged him to the hand basin, putting the victim’s head under hot running water for four to five minutes.

“The victim was struggling but he was unable to break free,” Judge Barrett said.

“Scratch marks on his neck suggest that he was struggling to get away from you.”

Judge Barrett said the photographs of the victim’s injuries were “quite shocking”.

The victim suffered 3.5 per cent partial thickness burns to his scalp and his face.

When interviewed by police, Hopgood initially denied the offending and said he hadn’t seen the victim for years.

Dylan Hopgood was jailed for assault causing harm. Photo: File

Hopgood, of Port Pirie, pleaded guilty to assault causing harm.

“The victim has no idea why you burnt him,” Judge Barrett said.

“He says he was always nice and friendly towards you and that you would come to his flat.”

The court heard Hopgood was lonely and depressed at the time of the offending, as well as drinking alcohol every day and taking illicit drugs.

“You claim that you have no memory of the incident involving the victim,” Judge Barrett said.

The court heard Hopgood has no history of employment and a daughter who he is estranged from.

“This was an extremely serious, unexplained example of this sort of offending,” Judge Barrett said.

He sentenced Hopgood to one year and eight months jail, with a non-parole period of 12 months.

The sentence was backdated to September 30.